Nutrition & Metabolism · Aug 4, 2025

Nutrient deficiency and physical inactivity in middle-aged adults with dynapenia and metabolic syndrome: results from a nationwide survey

By Kim M, Kobori T

BACKGROUND: This study examined the associations between dynapenia, metabolic syndrome (MetS), nutrient intake, and physical activity. METHODS: We used data from a cross-sectional study that included middle-aged men and women (40-64 years old) who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) between 2014 and 2017. Patients (n = 4700) were categorized into four groups based on diagnosis of dynapenia and MetS: dynapenic MetS (DM), dynapenia alone (D), MetS alone (M), and non-dynapenia and non-MetS (NDNM). Dynapenia was defined as the lowest tertile of the BMI-adjusted handgrip strength. MetS was defined as central obesity plus two or more of the following features: elevated fasting plasma glucose, blood pressure, or triglycerides, or reduced HDL cholesterol. Nutrient intake and physical activity were assessed via questionnaires. RESULTS: In women, the DM group had a significantly lower intake of all nutrients except for total energy and carbohydrates compared to the NDNM group. In a model adjusted for age, osteoarthritis, and total energy intake, the DM group showed higher odds ratios (ORs) for not practicing resistance training (men: OR (95% confidence intervals (CI)) = 1.64 (1.22-2.20); women: OR (95% CI) = 2.26 (1.59-3.21)) and for engaging in physical activities below 600 metabolic equivalents of tasks per week (men: OR (95% CI) = 1.36 (1.05-1.78); women: OR (95% CI) = 1.29 (1.02-1.63)) than the NDNM group. The women in the DM group had significantly higher OR for leisure-related moderate (OR (95% CI) = 2.00 (1.49-2.68)) and vigorous (OR (95% CI) = 1.76 (1.10-2.82)) physical inactivity than in the NDNM group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the combination of dynapenia and MetS was associated with poor nutrient intake in women and low physical activity in both sexes. These findings provide a foundation for developing intervention strategies to address dynapenia and MetS.

doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00978-1Open accessPubMed 40760484Populations